More than 50 US political activist & academics women support the Kurdistan independence referendum

vokradio, Los Angeles, California, USA

More than 50 US political activists and academics who signed a statement supporting the Kurdistan independence referendum as a democratic process, valid under international law

September 23, 2017

Los Angeles,

The following is the full text of their statement:

Statement of support

for the right to hold a referendum in the Kurdistan region in Iraq on Sep 25th

To all people who may be concerned with conflict resolution in the Middle East, concerned about the rights of all people to self-determination, and/or who would simply like to learn more about why this referendum is being held.

We ask our representatives to support Kurdistan referendum. We, women who are in one way or another originated from or related to the world's largest nation without a country, the Kurds, in this crucial moment of history, stand by the Kurdistan Regional Government's decision to hold a referendum in Kurdistan of Iraq.

1) The referendum is a democratic process in which Kurdistani citizens are able to directly vote and decide on an important political matter: self-determination and independence.

2) The referendum is consistent with principles embodied in the United States Congressional Record (1918), where every civilized nation has the unquestionable right to exercise full powers of internal self-government.

3) The referendum is legal based on international law. The ratification of the United Nations Charter in 1945 at the end of World War II placed the right of self-determination into the framework of international law and diplomacy.

4) While we are deeply excited by the Kurdistani people's decision and the possibility of getting the right of independence in a legitimate referendum, we understand that a declaration of independence might not result from this vote.

5) This referendum is not only for Kurds, it is also for all Kurdistani people of various ethnicities and religious affiliations who are living in the region under the Kurdistan Regional Government.

6) The legacy of colonialism in the Middle East and the decision to deny Kurds' self- determination that came about as a result of the Sykes-Picot Agreement )1916) must come to an end.

7) We condemn all threats from neighboring countries who have oppressed Kurds throughout history. We urge them to not interfere with this democratic process.
8) We believe that supporting such a cause is supporting human dignity, people's right to vote, people's right to decide for their own future, and people's rights to rescue their future generations from oppression.